WTO reform

The issue of WTO reform is a broad one, encompassing many facets of the WTO's work. The debate over WTO reform dates back many years but WTO members agreed for the first time at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022 to undertake a comprehensive review of the WTO's functions to ensure the organization is capable of responding more effectively to the challenges facing the multilateral trading system and to the opportunities it provides.

To launch the process, the then General Council Chair, Didier Chambovey (Switzerland), organized the first conversation focusing specifically on WTO reform in November 2022. This was followed by successive General Council chairs organizing other discussions focused on various topics. From June 2025 to April 2026, these discussions were led by Petter Ølberg (Norway), appointed as Facilitator by the then General Council Chair, Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel. Since June 2026, Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand, General Council Chair, is overseeing discussions with the assistance of five facilitators.

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News

Communication by the General Council Chairperson

Statements by DG Okonjo-Iweala

  • 26 June 2026
    WTO reform - Informal Heads of Delegation meeting 26 June 2026 - Statement by the Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
    JOB/GC/REFORM/2

Current facilitators

  • Ms Sumathi Balakrishnan (Malaysia) for foundational issues
  • Mr Katsuro Nagai (Japan) for decision-making issues
  • Ms Nthisana Motsete-Phillips (Botswana) for development issues
  • Mr Elmer Jose German Gonzalo Schialer Salcedo (Peru) for level playing field issues
  • Mr Kairat Torebayev (Kazakhstan) for any new issues arising
Ambassador Kelly

Since June 2026, Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand, General Council Chair, is overseeing reform discussions

Submissions by members

Members, both individually and in groups, have put forward many ideas on reform, including in the form of proposals and submissions. These ideas cover issues such as improving the deliberative function of the WTO; institutional matters; transparency; the working procedures of WTO councils and committees; development; and more general proposals on overall reform of the organization.

Some submissions have called for discussions on current issues confronting some members, such as the use of industrial subsidies, ensuring policy space to promote industrialisation in developing countries, and making trade more inclusive.

Co-Sponsors Title Document Symbols Date Date
Lesotho, on behalf of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group General Council - WTO Reform - Practical and development-oriented priorities for WTO reform - Communication ACP Group WT/GC/REFORM/W/20 16.10.2026 16.10.2026
The Gambia General Council - LDC Group perspectives on WTO Reform tracks post MC14 - Communication from the Gambia, on behalf of the LDC Group WT/GC/REFORM/W/19 16.10.2026 16.10.2026
Paraguay WTO Reform - Adoption of decisions WT/GC/REFORM/W/18 07.10.2026 07.10.2026
Paraguay WTO Reform - Level playing field issues WT/GC/REFORM/W/17 07.10.2026 07.10.2026
Australia WTO Reform - WTO reforms to level the playing field WT/GC/REFORM/W/16 01.10.2026 01.10.2026
Cameroon Réforme de l'OMC - Contribution du Cameroun aux réflexions sur les moyens d'optimiser les résultats des conférences ministérielles de l'OMC WT/GC/REFORM/W/15 ; WT/GC/W/1007 25.09.2026 25.09.2026
India WTO Reform - Guiding principles for plurilateral initiatives and agreements at the WTO WT/GC/REFORM/W/14 16.09.2026 16.09.2026
United Kingdom Progress Through Flexibility: The case for plurilateral work at the WTO WT/GC/REFORM/W/13 15.09.2026 15.09.2026
China Further reflections and suggestions on WTO Reform WT/GC/REFORM/W/12 14.09.2026 14.09.2026
New Zealand, Norway and Singapore Strengthening Inclusivity of Plurilateral Initiatives WT/GC/REFORM/W/11 09.09.2026 09.09.2026
Republic of Korea WTO Reform - Revitalizing the WTO's negotiating function: a structured pathway for plurilateral agreements and a responsible practice of consensus WT/GC/REFORM/W/10 16.07.2026 16.07.2026
Argentina WTO Reform - Further reflections on Argentina's proposal (WT/GC/W/1001) regarding a procedural mechanism for the incorporation of plurilateral agreements into annex 4 of the Marrakesh agreement WT/GC/REFORM/W/9 13.07.2026 13.07.2026
Japan WTO Reform - Designing together a fairer and more dynamic system WT/GC/REFORM/W/8 13.07.2026 13.07.2026
European Union WTO Reform - Further reflections on the WTO's governance WT/GC/REFORM/W/7 13.07.2026 13.07.2026
European Union WTO Reform - Further reflections on foundational issues following the Fourteenth Session of the Ministerial Conference WT/GC/REFORM/W/6 13.07.2026 13.07.2026
European Union WTO Reform - Further reflections on disciplines, subsidies and industrial policy WT/GC/REFORM/W/5 13.07.2026 13.07.2026
United Kingdom WTO Reform - Levelling the playing field through multilateral reform WT/GC/REFORM/W/4 10.07.2026 10.07.2026
Switzerland WTO Reform - Non-paper - Delivering through flexible multilateralism - A contribution to the WTO reform WT/GC/REFORM/W/3 02.07.2026 02.07.2026
Australia WTO Reform - Improving WTO rulemaking WT/GC/REFORM/W/2 25.06.2026 25.06.2026
WTO reform - Australia Improving WTO decision-making WT/GC/REFORM/W/1 19.06.2026 19.06.2026
Argentina Perspectives on WTO reform WT/GC/W/1001 26.05.2026 26.05.2026
Congo Continuation of the WTO reform process - Creation of an ad hoc Working Group WT/GC/W/1000 19.05.2026 19.05.2026
United States Further perspectives on WTO reform WT/GC/W/998 23.03.2026 23.03.2026
Australia ; Brazil ; Canada ; Colombia ; Iceland ; Liechtenstein ; New Zealand ; Switzerland ; Ukraine ; and Uruguay Draft ministerial decision for a dialogue on emerging agricultural trade issues WT/MIN(26)/W/6/Rev.2 17.03.2026 17.03.2026
United Kingdom More relevant, more flexible, more accessible WT/GC/W/993 06.03.2026 06.03.2026
African Group WTO reform : development-centred priorities for a balanced WTO WT/GC/W/992 05.03.2026 05.03.2026
Paraguay WTO reform - Draft ministerial decision RD/GC/49 03.03.2026 03.03.2026
Gambia Communication from The Gambia on behalf of the LDC Group - Revision WT/GC/W/991/Rev.1 18.03.2026 18.03.2026
China China's position paper on WTO reform under the current circumstances WT/GC/W/989 18.02.2026 18.02.2026
Paraguay WTO reform considerations WT/GC/W/987 03.02.2026 03.02.2026
European Union EU submission on WTO reform WT/GC/W/986 21.01.2026 21.01.2026
LDC Group LDC Group priorities at the World Trade Organization WT/GC/W/979 04.12.2025 04.12.2025
ACP Group Fundamentals for WTO reform WT/GC/W/975 28.11.2025 28.11.2025
United States On WTO reform WT/GC/W/984 15.12.2025 15.12.2025
United States Procedures to Enhance Transparency and Strengthen Notification Requirements under WTO Agreements JOB/GC/148 - JOB/CTG/10 and Rev.1 30.10.2017 30.10.2017
Canada Strengthening and Modernizing the WTO JOB/GC/201 24.09.2018 24.09.2018
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the European Union, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and United States Procedures to Enhance Transparency and Strengthen Notification Requirements under WTO Agreements JOB/GC/204 – JOB/CTG/14 and Add.1 and Add.2; and Rev.12 see also RD/CTG/7 01.11.2018 for the first communication 01.11.2018
Canada Joint Communiqué of the Ottawa Ministerial on WTO Reform WT/L/1042 07.11.2018 07.11.2018
Canada Strengthening the Deliberative Function of the WTO JOB/GC/211 14.12.2018 14.12.2018
African Group African Group Declaration on WTO Issues WT/L/1054
WT/GC/199
TN/C/19 		28.12.2018 28.12.2018
Canada Joint Communiqué of the Ottawa Ministerial on WTO Reform group meeting in Davos WT/L/1057 24.01.2019 24.01.2019
United States An undifferentiated WTO: self-declared development status risks institutional irrelevance WT/GC/W/757 and Rev.1 14.02.2019 for the first communication 14.02.2019
United States Procedures to Strengthen the Negotiating Function of the WTO WT/GC/W/764
and Rev.1 		15.02.2019 15.02.2019
China, India, South Africa, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Lao PDR, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Kenya, Cuba, Central African Republic and Pakistan Ensuring No One Is Left Behind – Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Members to Ensure Inclusiveness WT/GC/W/765 and Rev.1 and Rev.2 15.02.2019 for the first communication 15.02.2019
Norway; Canada; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Mexico; New Zealand; Singapore and Switzerland Pursuing the Development Dimension in WTO Rule-Making Efforts WT/GC/W/770 and Rev.1, Rev. 2 and Rev.3 26.04.2019 for the first communication 26.04.2019
China China's Proposal on WTO Reform WT/GC/W/773 13.05.2019 13.05.2019
African Group, Cuba, India and Oman An Inclusive Approach to Transparency and Notification Requirements in the WTO JOB/GC/218, JOB/CTG/15,
JOB/SERV/292, JOB/IP/33,
JOB/DEV/58, JOB/AG/158 and Rev.1, and Rev.2 		27.06.2019 for the first communication 27.06.2019
Hong Kong, China Better Functioning of CTG and Subsidiary Committees RD/CTG/9 27.06.2019 27.06.2019
Albania; Australia; Canada; China; European Union; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Republic of Korea; Republic of Moldova; New Zealand; North Macedonia; Norway; Panama; Qatar; Singapore; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; Türkiye and Ukraine Procedural Guidelines for WTO Councils and Committees addressing Trade Concerns WT/GC/W/777 and Rev.1, Rev.2, Rev.3, Rev.4, Rev.5 and Rev.6 05.07.2019
for the first communication 		05.07.2019
African Group; Plurinational State of Bolivia; Cuba; Ecuador; India and Oman Strengthening the WTO to Promote Development and Inclusivity WT/GC/W/778 and Rev.1, Rev.2, Rev.3 and  Rev.4 11.07.2019
for the first communication 		11.07.2019
African Group, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, India, Lao PDR, Oman, Pakistan and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Statement on Special and Differential Treatment to Promote Development WT/GC/202 and Rev.1 08.10.2019 for the first communication 08.10.2019 for the first communication
Hong Kong, China Better Functioning of CTG and Subsidiary Committees RD/CTG/10 11.11.2019 11.11.2019
LDC Group LDC Views on WTO Reform Discussions and Proposals JOB/GC/223, Corr.1 and Rev.1 06.12.2019
for the first communication 		06.12.2019
United States, Brazil and Japan The Importance of Market-Oriented Conditions to the World Trading System – Statement from Brazil, Japan and the United States WT/GC/W/803 and Rev.1 20.07.2020 for the first communication 20.07.2020 for the first communication
United States The Importance of Market-Oriented Conditions to the World Trading System – Draft General Council Decision WT/GC/W/796 20.09.2020 20.09.2020
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Riyadh Initiative on the Future of the WTO – TIWG Chairs Summary Annex 1 of WT/GC/221 22.09.2020 22.09.2020
Australia; Brazil; Canada; China; Israel; Japan; Mexico; Republic of Moldova; New Zealand; Norway; Singapore; Switzerland; United Kingdom; United States; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; The Netherlands; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; European Union Procedural Improvements for the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration WT/BFA/W/538, Rev.1 and Rev.2 15.02.2021
for the first communication 		15.02.2021
Brazil Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference JOB/GC/310 25.05.2022 25.05.2022
African Group; Cuba; India and Pakistan Strengthening the WTO to Promote Development and Inclusivity WT/GC/W/778/Rev.5 18.07.2022 18.07.2022
United States Consideration of Improvements to the Functioning of the CRTA to better serve Members WT/REG/W/174
JOB/REG/6 and Rev.1 		18.01.2023 for the first communication 18.01.2023
Argentina; Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; Paraguay; Peru and Uruguay Functioning of the CTG and its Subsidiary Bodies JOB/CTG/21, JOB/TBT/498 JOB/SPS/25, JOB/MA/158 JOB/AG/238, JOB/TF/232 and
Rev. 1, Rev.2 and Rev.3 		22.02.2023
for the first communication 		22.02.2023
European Union Reinforcing the Deliberative Function of the WTO to Respond to Global Trade Policy Challenges WT/GC/W/864 20.02.2023 20.02.2023
African Group (Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo; Côte d'Ivoire; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Egypt; Eswatini; Gabon; The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea Bissau; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Tanzania; Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; Zambia And Zimbabwe) Policy Space for Industrial Development – A Case for Rebalancing Trade Rules to Promote Industrialization and to Address Emerging Challenges such as Climate Change, Concentration of Production and Digital Industrialization WT/GC/W/868, G/C/W/825
WT/COMTD/W/270, IP/C/W/695
WT/WGTTT/W/33 		01.03.2023 01.03.2023
United Kingdom Compilation of Input on the Functioning of Goods Bodies JOB/CTG/26 and Rev.1 30.03.2023 for the first communication 30.03.2023
Argentina List of Issues where there appears to be a consensus that they should be addressed in all CTG Subsidiary Bodies RD/CTG/19 04.04.2023 04.04.2023
United Kingdom UK Views on the Functioning of the CMA JOB/MA/163 25.04.2023 25.04.2023
Colombia; Guatemala; Israel; New Zealand; Peru; Philippines; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand and United States Improving Inclusiveness by Reviewing and Evaluating External Engagement WT/GC/W/871 and Rev.1, Rev.2 and Rev.3 26.04.2023 for the first communication 26.04.2023
Thailand and United States Improving the Operation of the General Council and
Heads of Delegation/Trade Negotiations Committee 		WT/GC/W/872 and Rev.1 26.04.2023 for the first communication 26.04.2023
Australia; Canada; China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; New Zealand; Norway; Thailand and Türkiye Maximising the Value of WTO Ministerial Conferences WT/GC/W/873 and Rev.1, Rev.2 and Rev.3 27.04.2023 for the first communication 27.04.2023
India WTO Reform: Incremental Changes to Improve the Functioning of the Various WTO Bodies WT/GC/W/874 01.05.2023 01.05.2023
Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; Costa Rica; European Union; Guatemala; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Republic of Korea; Republic of Moldova; Montenegro; New Zealand; North Macedonia; Norway; Peru; Philippines; Singapore; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; Ukraine; and United Kingdom Improving the Operation of WTO Bodies to Revitalise the WTO's Monitoring and Deliberative Function WT/GC/W/877 and Rev.1 03.05.2023 for the first communication 03.05.2023
Australia; China and Thailand Small Steps to Make a Difference WT/GC/W/879 and Rev.1 and Rev.2 18.05.2023 for the first communication 18.05.2023
Argentina; Brazil; Colombia; Ecuador; Paraguay and Uruguay Functioning of the General Council and its Subsidiary Bodies WT/GC/W/881 12.06.2023 12.06.2023
Brazil WTO Ministerial Conferences WT/GC/W/882 14.06.2023 14.06.2023
China Fulfilling the Mandate and Strengthening the Function of the CRTA WT/REG/W/180 21.06.2023 21.06.2023
African Group (Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo; Côte D'Ivoire; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Egypt; Eswatini; Gabon; The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Tanzania;
Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; Zambia and Zimbabwe) 		A Development Perspective on Institutional Reforms of the World Trade Organization WT/GC/W/895 13.07.2023 13.07.2023
Australia; Brazil; Canada; Colombia; Costa Rica; European Union; New Zealand; Norway; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; United Kingdom and the United States Proposed Revisions to WT/L/452 "Procedures for the Circulation and Derestriction of WTO Documents" WT/GC/W/897 and Rev.1 13.07.2023 for the first communication 13.07.2023
United Kingdom Improving the Functioning of the Council for Trade in Services and its Subsidiary Bodies S/C/W/452 21.07.2023 21.07.2023
Colombia; Paraguay; the United Kingdom and Uruguay Functioning of the CTG:
Enhancing Clarity and Accessibility of Information 		JOB/CTG/43 and Rev.1 16.11.2023 for the first communication 16.11.2023
China Options to Acknowledge Progress and Provide Further Instructions for the "Reform by Doing" Work at MC13 JOB/GC/372 20.11.2023 20.11.2023
United States Further Structural Reforms of the WTO TBT Committee:
Thematic Sessions and Transparency 		G/TBT/W/790 16.02.2024 16.02.2024
African Group (Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cabo Verde; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Comoros;
Congo; Côte d'Ivoire; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Egypt;
Eswatini; Gabon; The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea Bissau; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius;
Morocco; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; South Africa; Tanzania; Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; Zambia and Zimbabwe) 		WTO Reform WT/GC/W/971 30.10.2025 30.10.2025

Secretariat papers requested by members

MC14 Takeaway document breakout sessions on WTO reform

Reports by former Facilitator Petter Ølberg